Public art & sculpture · Central Scotland
Vital Spark
In or near Glasgow.
Vital Spark — a public art in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
habiloid — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
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Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Kelvinhall · 0.8 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Vital Spark, the nearest railway station is Kelvinhall, located 0.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is G3 8AG, and entry is free.
About
Vital Spark is a public art located in scotland-central, United Kingdom. Sourced from OpenStreetMap (ODbL licence); see local listings for visitor information, opening hours and admission details.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2019
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, opened in 1901, features stunning architecture and a family-friendly atmosphere. Visitors can explore 22 galleries showcasing a diverse range of exhibits, including art, animals, and historical artifacts.
From the Wikipedia article
The Vital Spark is the best known name associated with Clyde puffer boats, having been used in the fictional works created by Scottish writer Neil Munro. Several Clyde puffers were used in televised versions of Munro's stories and subsequently for purposes such as events and tourism. As the numbers of surviving puffers diminished the boats Auld Reekie and Eilean Eisdeal were both portrayed as Vital Spark.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Puffers seem to have been regarded fondly even before Munro began publishing his short stories in the Glasgow Evening News in 1905. This may not be surprising, for these small steamboats were then providing a vital supply link around the west coast of Scotland and Hebrides. The charming rascality of the stories went well beyond the reality of a commercial shipping business, but they brought widespread fame. They appeared in the newspaper over 20 years, were collected in book form by 1931, inspired the 1953 film The Maggie, and came out as three popular television series, dating from 1959 to 1995.
Description
In her captain's own (islands accented) words, the Vital Spark is "aal hold, with the boiler behind, four men and a derrick, and a watter-butt and a pan loaf in the foc'sle". The way these steam lighters with their steam-powered derricks could offload at any suitable beach or small pier is featured in many Vital Spark stories, and allows amusing escapades in the small west coast communities. The cargoes carried in the hold vary from gravel or coal to furniture to livestock, the crew's quarters in the forecastle are taken as lodgings by holidaymakers or lost children and the steam engine struggles on under the dour care of the engineer Macphail. Tales are recounted of improbably dramatic…
Visiting
The Argyll brewer Fyne Ales, near Inveraray, where the current boat rests and Neil Munro was born, have since 2010 brewed a dark ale that they named Vital Spark in tribute to the series. A historic pub in Govan was named Vital Spark. A sculpture of a Clyde puffer The Vital Spark by George Wyllie is displayed outside Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.8683, -4.2888
- District
- Glasgow City
- Postcode
- G3 8AG
- Parliamentary constituency
- Glasgow North
- Phone
- +44 141 276 9599
- Nearest railway station
- Kelvinhall — 0.8 km
- Opening
- Monday to Friday 10am–5pm; Saturday 10am–5pm; Sunday 11am–5pm
- Official site
- www.glasgowlife.org.uk
Sources
- osm: node/13649607927 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Vital Spark (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Vital Spark?
- Vital Spark is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode G3 8AG).
- What is Vital Spark?
- Vital Spark — a public art in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Vital Spark?
- The nearest railway station is Kelvinhall, about 0.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode G3 8AG.
- Is Vital Spark free to visit?
- Yes, Vital Spark is free to enter.
- How do I get to Vital Spark?
- The nearest railway station is Kelvinhall, about 0.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode G3 8AG.